David Higdon
Global Head of Communications Esports for Riot Games
Higdon currently serves as Global Head of Communications, Esports for Riot Games, publisher of League of Legends, the world’s most popular esport, as well as VALORANT Esports. He joined Riot in 2018 to amplify storytelling around LoL Esports’ global events (World Championship, Mid-Season Invitational, and All-Star Event) as well as its 12 global leagues, teams, players, and partners such as Mastercard, Verizon, Spotify, State Farm, and Red Bull. The 2020 League of Legends World Championship brought in record-breaking viewershiop (23.04 million AMA, 45.95 PCU), earned media coverage (3,300+ global stories), and multiple industry awards.
David Higdon has served in global leadership roles for a number of sports organizations including Riot Games (esports), LPGA Tour (women’s golf), ATP Tour (men’s tennis), NASCAR (stock car racing), and Champ Car World Series (open-wheel racing). As NASCAR Vice President, Integrated Marketing Communications, Higdon developed strategic initiatives for the motorsports series and led organization-wide business development projects. NASCAR was honored with the 2015 PRWeek “In-House PR Team of the Year.” His move into sports business followed more than a decade working as a journalist, highlighted by his coverage of the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, Track & Field, and other sports for The New York Times , The Runner, and ESPN The Magazine .
In November 2015, Higdon was named Advisory Board Chair at the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center of the University’s Lundquist College of Business, and now serves as Chair Emeritus. The Board includes executives from NIKE, T-Mobile, LA2028, adidas, ESPN, FOX Sports, Wasserman, and the WTA Tour.